SUSFERT
Sustainable multifunctional fertilizer – combining bio-coatings, probiotics and struvite for phosphorus and iron supply
Project details
- Type of project
- Innovation Action - Demonstration
- Project focus
- Crop protection & fertilisation
- Feedstock origin
- Agri-food wasteForestry waste
- Feedstock type
- Food industry sidestreamsLignin & wood residues
- Project period
- 1 May 2018 - 31 December 2023
- Status
- Completed
- CBE JU Contribution
- € 6 549 154,69
- Call identifier
- H2020-BBI-JTI-2017
Summary
SUSFERT aimed to develop multifunctional fertilisers for phosphorus and iron supply that fit into existing production processes and EU agricultural practices. Phosphorus, essential for crop production, was traditionally based on non-renewable resources. The SUSFERT project developed sustainable new sources for novel fertilisers to replace existing sources partly or fully.
Specifically, the project reduced non-renewable phosphorus in fertilisers by 40 per cent, replaced synthetic chelates for iron fertilisation, replaced synthetic controlled-release coatings, and produced four compound fertilisers.
SUSFERT's 11 prototypes of sustainable fertiliser solutions
- Obtain compatible probiotic and sustainable solutions for phosphorus and iron fertilisation.
- Achieve cost-effective enzymatically modified lignin-based coatings for product stabilisation and controlled release.
- Produce microbial siderophore for fertilisers using a specifically developed demonstration plant.
- Develop and produce at least four fertiliser products that fit current production and existing application technology.
- Obtain registration dossiers for organic formulations, granule, microgranule and liquid fertiliser solutions developed, following relevant field trials.
- Identify the economic and environmental impact of SUSFERT products, their sustainability, any potential barriers to uptake and opportunities for their adaptation.
- Developed 11 prototypes of sustainable, multifunctional fertiliser solutions including specialised solutions for phosphorus and iron supply.
- Successfully combined bio-based ingredients like biodegradable coatings for controlled release, probiotics to increase nutrient availability, the renewable phosphorous source struvite, soil improvers, and nutrigels.
- Achieved cost-effective, sustainable fertilisers by using enzymatically modified lignin-based materials, sustainable probiotics, siderophores, and lignosulfonate-based biodegradable coatings.
- Advanced in siderophore-based iron fertilisation using synthetic iron chelate-based fertilisers that accumulate in soils.
- Addressed the issue of synthetic polymer coatings used for controlled release of nutrients by using synthetic polymer coatings.
- Potentially decreased the EU's existing dependence on rock phosphorus by 40 %.
- Valorised waste and by-products, promoting the circular economy in Europe.
- Promoted new local value chains for fertilisers and fertiliser components.
- Advanced sustainable agriculture and created innovative fertiliser solutions driving the future of sustainable agricultural practices.
- Created more than 100 stable jobs in rural areas.
Consortium map
Project coordination
- RTDS - VEREIN ZUR FORDERUNG DER KOMMUNIKATION UND VERMITTLUNG VON FORSCHUNG, TECHNOLOGIE UND INNOVATION (RTDS VEREIN, ENGL. RTDS ASSOCIATION) Wien, Austria
Consortium
- UNIVERSITEIT ANTWERPEN Antwerpen, Belgium
- AIT AUSTRIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY GMBH Wien, Austria
- SAPPI PAPIER HOLDING GMBH Gratkorn, Austria
- AGRANA RESEARCH & INNOVATION CENTER GMBH Wien, Austria
- AGROBIOGEL GMBH TULLN AN DER DONAU, Austria
- AGRO INNOVATION INTERNATIONAL Saint-Malo, France
- UNIVERSITAET FUER BODENKULTUR WIEN Wien, Austria
- SAPPI NETHERLANDS SERVICES BV Maastricht, Netherlands
- TIMAC AGRO DUNGEMITTELPRODUKTIONS UND HANDELS GMBH WIEN, Austria
- ACIES BIO BIOTEHNOLOSKE RAZISKAVE IN RAZVOJ DOO Ljubljana, Slovenia
- AGRANA STARKE GMBH Wien, Austria
- ABITEP GMBH Berlin, Germany
